Help me build: The Leper


Advice


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The Leper

"This man understands that adversity and existence, are one in the same"

For those of you who have not played Darkest Dungeon, The Leper is a front-line warrior who's strengths are Tanking everything, Hitting hard and self buffs and heals. Effectively becoming self sufficient.

Before we start throwing out CoDzilla. Is there anyway to achieve this concept without the use of spells? Even if its not exactly optimal. There are feats and class features that heal/buff without needing to be a caster.

So key points
*Human
*Heavy Hitter
*Huge Health/Defense
*Self Buffs/Heals
*Charisma Dumpstat.


Well, you just ruled out Paladin with that charisma dump. What's really sad is that you've also ix-nayed the Bloodrager, which would be able to give you literally everything you want. So this pretty much leaves one option: Barbarian.


The Leper (Sample Build)
20 Point buy
Level 5 Barbarian Unchained (Invulnerable Rager)
18(+1)
10
17
12
12
7

Max Priority Skills
Acrobatics
Heal
UMD
Perception
Intimidate

Feats:
Power attack
Endurance
Diehard
Signature Skill: (Heal)

Traits
Battlefield Surgeon
Dangerously Curious

Rage Powers:
Renewed Vigor
Powerful Stance


The first thing coming to my mind when I read Leper was a Oracle with the Wasting curse. While you won't dumpstat CHA, as you need it for casting, the curse imposes a -4 penalty on charisma skill checks, which is exactly what you wanted from a flavor pov.
Battle or Metal mystery make great front liners.


Wiki wrote:
A ruined man, a warrior, and a poet. The Leper is most effective when given a turn to focus himself before raising his massive blade. When he swings, it is all or nothing - crushing blows and massive damage or the empty whistling of a glancing blow. He is entirely self-sufficient, drawing strength from his life of trauma, and able to channel it into heals, protection, or unrelenting fury.

I just dusted this game off the other night, I'm really enjoying the Arbalest and Man At Arms, and returning to the gorgeous art and brutal setting.

As for the Leper, EDIT: your Barbarian build looks great, but alternatively... I'd reconsider the Paladin, playing devil's advocate for not dumping Charisma. The game groups him among the "religious classes" when it comes to skill use, and you can easily play his high Charisma as a quiet intensity, skill Intimidate over Diplomacy, and play the strong, silent type. His immunity to a lot of effects, spellcasting and damage soak with Lay on Hands seem very fitting, as does Heavy Armour proficiency. Hell, given their disease immunity at level 3, you're immune to the adverse effects of the disease, and can cast lesser restoration to restore what damage is done. Your faith and resolve is all that let you endure your condition, but the scars remain.

PRD wrote:

LEPROSY

Type disease, contact, inhaled, or injury; Save Fortitude DC 12 negates, Fortitude DC 20 to avoid effects
Onset 2d4 weeks; Frequency 1/week
Effect 1d2 Cha damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves

Extra Lay on Hands makes the Paladin one of the tankiest characters in Pathfinder, and you can take it multiple times for extra damage soaking. Swift Action healing is just really, really good, and access to the Paladin spell list for scroll and wand use without the skill investment is just gravy. Diehard is expensive, but awesome thematically. But characters at this level dont have many feats to work with. A dip into the Unbreakable Fighter might be worth the investment if you're willing to delay your progression for it, but two feats is a big investment and I'd probably opt to spend them on 2 extra bursts of xd6 hitpoints.

There are ways for a Paladin to trade out his spellcasting, but might I ask what's dissuading you from divine casting to begin with? Most of the useful buffs in Pathfinder have minute/level or 10 minute/level durations, and are usually cast out of combat. (With some exceptions, Divine Favor is a short term boost to your damage that you can effectively double with the Fate's Favored trait for the equivalent of the Leper's Focus ability, which admittedly I have never used...). You'd focus on pre-buffing before combat with your spell slots, Scrolls, Wands, etc with spells like Protection from Evil and Shield Other and spend your combat actions making a menace of yourself and hitting the bad-guys with your big sword. None of that fancy-gish-nonsense here. The Magical Knack trait might be worth a look over for improving the durations of your Paladin spells.

You sound like you have a pretty solid idea of what you want, and I've overlooked your "no spellcasting" clause in your OP (I really hate to be that guy), but this is how I'd build that particular character. I love Lay on Hands, and have always interpreted the Leper as a divine caster. YMMV. If you're meaning to play this build, let us know how it goes!


I'd go with a Vivisectionist Alchemist. Self-buffing, damage boost, and take the discoveries for minor free action healing.


@Twigs:
You make a very compelling argument. (Also I didn't notice that the Leper was considered religious in game. Poetic yes, Religious no.) The main reason I asked for no spell-casting was more a flight of fancy to see if it could be done.

And, to be that guy, Not entirely a fan of Alignment restrictions. But you take what you can get with Divine casters. Though this does Raise a question.

What about Warpriest? It seems to be pretty much a paladin without the whole paladin thing. Love paladins, but the Crusader in the game already takes that cake.

@QuidEst While it most definitely would work, I've been playing Alchemists entirely too much and want to branch out a bit.


I'd argue for an Unbreakable Fighter (VMC Battle Oracle), most likely a Half-Orc if your GM won't let you take the Deathless feat line. Tack onto that things like Combat Expertise->Stalwart and Fast Healer.

Grab the Wasting Curse and Battlefield clarity for a Full BaB-Martial that's near immune to any status-effect that allows a save.

Or, ala' Darkest Dungeons, The Leper.


The Leper V2 (Pally Version)
20 Point buy
1 Unbreakable fighter/4 Paladin
15(+1)
10
15
10
12
16

Maxed Skills:
Perception
Intimidate

Feats:
Power attack
Furious Focus (Or Stalwart)
Fast Healer (or Craft Wondrous Item)
Extra Lay on Hands

Traits:
Fate's Favored (Or Adaptive Magic)
Magical Knack (Or Dangerously Curious)
Seeker

Drawback:
Misbegotten
-----

The Leper V3 (VMC)
Unbreakable fighter(Battle Oracle/Wasting)
17
10
15
13
9
14

Max Skills
Intimdate
Perception
UMD

Feats:
Combat Expertise (F)
Power attack (f)
Fast healer
Godless healing
Stalwart

Traits
Caretaker
Dangerously Curious

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